UMass Amherst Hosts Best Campus Food Celebration Featuring Top Schools from Across the Nation

AMHERST, Mass. – In what has become an annual tradition, UMass Amherst will play host to the “Best Campus Food” Celebration on Wednesday, March 28 from 5-9 p.m. at Hampshire Dining Commons. Twelve chefs from six colleges and universities that earned “Best Campus Food” recognition in the 2018 edition of The Princeton Review will participate in one of the most anticipated specials held each year in the university’s dining commons.

“We are honored and excited to bring together such a talented group of chefs. This event is a true reflection of the exceptional dining experience at the schools represented in the Princeton Review’s list of ‘Best Campus Food,’” says Ken Toong, executive director of auxiliary enterprises at UMass Amherst.

Chefs from UMass Dining Services and their colleagues from Cornell University, James Madison University, St. Olaf College, Rice University and Virginia Tech will be showcasing some of their most popular menu items that helped place them in the Princeton Review ranking.

The Princeton Review’s rankings are based on yearly surveys of 143,000 students attending colleges across the country. For the past seven years, UMass Dining has been among the top dining programs in the country for “Best Campus Food,” achieving the number one spot for the second year in a row.

“We are truly blessed with a great team,” says Toong. “Their hard work and dedication shines through with every meal we serve. This honor belongs to them.”

Johnny Curet, director of campus dining at Rice University, is a first time participant and echoes the tone of Toong, noting that they are “honored to be a part of this prestigious event and with such distinguished company.” He further explains that “events like this bring attention to the dedicated culinarians that work hard to ensure students have the best experience while they are a part of our community.”

The event will include a performance by the Minuteman Marching Band and brief remarks from Robert Franek, editor in chief of The Princeton Review, UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Andy Mangels.

The dinner is open to the public for $15.50 per person. Students, faculty and staff on a meal plan can attend the dinner with a meal plan swipe.